The Best Resident Evil Games Ranked From Worst To Best

Brandon from That Green Dude is hosting a big Resident Evil project called Resident Evil Memories. I’ve planning this list for awhile now so I decided to add this to his big project and help spread some Resident Evil love. I look forward to our future disagreements on the games I’ve chosen on my list. I’m only counting the main games on this list not the many spin-offs.

Resident Evil 7

This is the only Resident Evil game that I’ve never finished. I can’t bring myself to play this game. I have a total of 6 hours played spread across the PC and PS4. It could be a little higher, but my point is I’ve bought this game twice and hated it both times. I don’t like the first person perspective and the hide and seek bullshit you have to play with the family. It’s stupid and it feels like Outlast with guns instead of a true Resident Evil game. Capcom followed the trend that Outlast set and made this horrible game. At least we have that awesome looking Resident Evil 2 game releasing next month :).

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

The only reason why this game is so low is because I don’t remember much of it. I mean… I remember Jill and the big ass Nemesis monster chasing her throughout the whole game, but that’s really it. It’s been so long since I played it. I know I enjoyed the game, but I also know it was never one of my favorite Resident Evil games. So take from that what you will.

Resident Evil 6

I don’t hate Resident Evil 6. Once that sinks in you may continue reading :). I really enjoyed this game for what it was. Was it ridiculous? Yes, it was. it really was, but it’s a good kind of ridiculous to to. I love the fact that this game has local co op, a fun as hell multiplayer mode, and 3 campaigns with different characters and I really enjoyed them all. I can’t throw hate at a game that I genuinely enjoyed. It’s not bad at all and the gameplay is still fantastic to this day. It’s really fun to play and I wouldn’t mind if Capcom took that gameplay and slapped on a new project.

Resident Evil 2

I love this game. I always rolled with Claire first because she’s one of my favorite Resident Evil characters ever. Leon’s not bad I guess… he’s just not one of my favorites :). This game is just a good time, but it was never one of MY favorite Resident Evil games. I know that’s an unpopular opinion to have, but since when have I cared about that? At the end of the day I really enjoyed this game and I’m really looking forward to playing the remake next month.

Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 marked a new direction for the Resident Evil series. Gone were the fixed camera angles and we, finally, were able to navigate the world of Resident Evil the way I always wanted to. This game also split the fanbase of Resident Evil to this very day. Some people, like me, loved the changes that this game made to the game. And some people think the glory days of Resident Evil were with the fixed camera angles and hate everything that came after 3. The only negative, and reason it’s so low on my list, is that I had to deal with Ashely’s dumbass and her constantly yelling Leon’s name over, and over, and over, and over again…

Resident Evil Zero

I know a lot of people consider this game to be one of the worst Resident Evil games of the core series. I’m, obviously, going in the opposite direction here. I love this game to pieces. This game introduced the partner companion to the series and they’re better than the AI companion in Resident Evil 5. I like the fact that this game started off on a moving train, had a partner to experience the horrors with, had puzzles designed for both characters, creepy locales, and interesting story to boot. I really love Resident Evil Zero and I like how it tied into Resident Evil 2. This game is great and I can play it forever.

Resident Evil

Before all of you rage at my number 1 pick because by this point you must know what it is. Here’s my runner up and some times my favorite Resident Evil game of all time. I love this game. It’s damn near perfect in my book. Chris and Jill are iconic protagonist that survived one hell of an ordeal in that creepy ass mansion. The mansion is as iconic as the characters to me. Navigating that creepy place left an impression on 11 year old me. I still remember almost everything about this game. It’s one of the best horror games ever made and if I was judging this list on just how creepy I thought these games were this game would be number 1.

Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5 has a lot going for it. It has one of my favorite protagonist of all time (Chris Redfield) and introduced co op to the series. I don’t care about the angry people that hate on this game because it’s not “scary” anymore. People still love this game and I’m one of them. Resident Evil 5 gave me one of the best game experiences I’ve ever had. It’s one of the best co op games ever made, the best Resident Evil game ever made to this day, and is damn near perfect to me and I didn’t have to put any thought at all into what my number 1 game on this list would be because I already knew going in that this game would top the list.

What are your favorite Resident Evil games? Feel free to have a civil disagreement with me below and let me know! And if you want to participate in the Resident Evil Memories project click here to find out how.

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29 Comments

Good article. I must admit, nothing tops the original for me. To this day, it remains an absolute favourite. I played a little of 5 but it didn’t feel like a Resident Evil game to me and I gave up. I skipped 6. I actually quite liked 7 because it felt more like a Resident Evil game to me due to the sheer amount that it managed to scare me. That’s the joy of franchsies like this though, each game has its market. Gotta agree with RE:Zero being good though, I really enjoyed that back when I had a GameCube.

I think we only disagree on the newer Resident Evil games :). I’m with you on Resident Evil 1. It’s fantastic, but I wouldn’t call any of the Resident Evil games outside of part 1 “scary”. Especially Resident Evil 7. That game is horrible imo.

The Gamecube had all of the classic Resident Evil games. Such an underrated console.

The GameCube really was; I’m not entirely sure why I got rid of mine. Or when for that matter. Maybe it’s in my loft…

I found that they got less scary as they went along for the most part. I really enjoyed 2, but it always felt like there was too much ammo to me. And 3 just didn’t have the same creepiness. Fair enough though, I can see why people wouldn’t like 7, it just managed to hit the right buttons for me.

A very interesting list, was fun to read! Ironically I think your worst entry was my best, I really loved 7, I got so immersed into it! 2 would be my 2nd, with 3 my third, maybe 4 next. They all bring something different to the table I guess and that covers a lot of tastes (and hates too!)

Thanks! And I’m not surprised that most people disagree with me on 7 being ranked dead last :). I tried, twice, to get into 7 and just couldn’t. It didn’t pull me in the way the other games in the series did. It looks like our list would be quite different from each other :).

Yep. If I pretend 7 doesn’t exist I would love the whole franchise :). I’m just kidding… I’ll probably have to sit down and force myself to play through 7. The story was interesting. It’s just everything else that was… meh to me.

I had to force myself to play Persona 5, The Witcher 2, and Skyrim and all 3 of those are some of my favorite games of all time. So… I’ll try my best to keep an open mind for Resident Evil 7. Getting through the beginning of the game is a pain though, but I keep hearing that it gets better.

I played after the first boss and thought it was boring though. I just can’t get into the new direction Capcom has decided to go with the series. The remake to part 2 can’t get here fast enough for me.

I’m well aware that I’m in the minority with placing 5 at the top of my list :). I loved part 1 and, for the most part, 2 and 4 as well. I just love the series, except 7, and I’m excited for the remake next month.

Great piece dude! Like you I really like Resident Evil 5, up until the last act. It falters there but overall RE5 is good and is a blast co-op.

I like RE6 and I don’t. It isn’t a bad game but there are many negatives about it. Leon and Ada’s campaigns are great, Chris’s is okay but Jake’s annoys me. There’s something about his character that I don’t like.

As for RE7 I have to completely disagree with you. It’s the best RE we have had in a while it showed that even though they were following trends to some degree, Capcom does indeed remember how to do horror.

Thank you for writing this, I’ll get it attached to the Resident Evil Memories project when I go on my laptop again. 🙂

The end to Resident Evil 5 was cheesy, but I still enjoyed it for what it was.

We’re opposites on 6. My least favorite campaign was Leon and Ada’s and my favorites are Chris and Jake’s lol. I just REALLY enjoyed punching the crap out of everything with Jake.

And just about everyone in this chat has disagreed with me on that! But I don’t care I still don’t like it! I’m kidding. I love having discussions with everyone on our different tastes in games. Resident Evil 7 was super boring though. It was creepy as shit, but very, very boring.

I don’t hate RE6, but I did find it pretty boring. Leon’s campaign was pretty good, and Ada’s wasn’t bad either, but the other two were so bland. 5 was alright too, but there was a lack of fear for my money. I really enjoyed Code: Veronica, simply because it was bonkers without straying to far from the previous games.

We’re opposites there! My favorite campaign in RE6 was Chris and Jake’s while my least favorite was Ada and Leon lol. 6… just didn’t know what it wanted to be and that’s what hurt it. That and it had too many characters. I could gone without Ada and Leon, but that’s just me. And part 5 was awesome!

Code Veronica was too, but I was only listing the main games. If I was making a list of all of the Resident Evil games that game would have been pretty high on the list.